Chapter 94 The Abandoned Eldest Daughter Makes a Comeback (18 chapters)
Upon seeing this, Xiao Chengze felt as if he had been granted a pardon and nodded quickly.
"Yes, I'll do anything you ask."
“Xiao Chengze, I didn’t mean to make things difficult for you, but it’s not a pleasant feeling to be deceived. In order to resolve my estrangement from you, you should compensate me for my emotional distress.”
The space in 001 was too large; the things Xiao Chengxu and Xiao Chengze sent didn't even fill a corner. Royal items were all high-quality goods, which would be hard currency in other worlds, so Shen Yunzhen decided to take advantage of them as much as possible.
Although she could get a lot of good things with Xiao Chengxu around, she couldn't let the other sheep go either, since it was all just a convenient thing to do anyway.
"Compensation for emotional distress?"
Xiao Chengze was puzzled, but then quickly understood and said without thinking:
"Okay, I will give you everything."
Seeing that Xiao Chengze was starting to get happy, Shen Yunzhen reminded him, "Have you forgotten? I already compensated you for your things."
Xiao Chengze is now penniless, with only some things he has already used. He even gave his monthly allowance to Shen Yunzhen.
Xiao Chengze also remembered, and immediately froze, looking at Shen Yunzhen at a loss.
That kid is so stupid, he doesn't get it at all.
Shen Yunzhen reminded her, "You're not a prince, are you? You receive a monthly allowance, and the palace gives you rewards during festivals, right? I heard the Xu family is also a prominent clan with considerable wealth. When they were granted their own residences, your father would also give you a settlement allowance..."
Xiao Chengze said dejectedly, "But I don't have any now. The gifts from my father and mother, as well as the ones from my uncle, have all been spent."
As a prince born into wealth, Xiao Chengze naturally had no concept of thrift and spent money lavishly. He had no savings at all, and the little he had left was quickly taken away by Shen Yunzhen.
Shen Yunzhen wanted to roll her eyes: "The money's all gone, but won't they give us more later?"
Xiao Chengze realized what was happening, looked at Shen Yunzhen, and his eyes gradually brightened.
“I understand. From now on, I will give you all the rewards from Father and Mother. No, not just rewards, I can ask for them... no, I will take good care of them, and the same goes for my uncle’s family.”
Shen Yunzhen nodded vigorously and corrected, "What do you mean by 'for me'? This is your compensation for my emotional distress. The things you hid from me caused me enormous psychological trauma, do you understand?"
Guilt gripped Xiao Chengze's heart again, and he nodded hesitantly in agreement, apologizing once more.
"I'm sorry, Yunzhen."
"In that case, write me an IOU. All the rewards and money you receive thereafter will be paid to me as compensation for emotional distress."
Xiao Chengze nodded obediently and did exactly as Shen Yunzhen said, writing an IOU for her verbatim, signing his name, and stamping it with his personal seal.
He didn't notice at all that the IOU didn't specify the compensation period or include the word "all".
In other words, from the moment he signed this IOU, he would be penniless for the rest of his life.
However, Shen Yunzhen is not a heartless person.
She folded the IOU neatly and tucked it into her clothes, then quietly transferred it into her spatial storage before speaking slowly and deliberately:
"Although you made a big mistake and almost broke my heart, I have always been magnanimous. Since I have already forgiven you, I will naturally not make things too difficult for you."
Shen Yunzhen paused slightly, a sly glint in her eyes. "How about this, I'll keep one tael of your monthly allowance for you. You're a prince, and you don't have to worry about food and lodging in the palace, but this one tael is specially for you. With it, you can easily buy some small trinkets whenever you want. Don't think it's too little."
Xiao Chengze was so moved he almost cried: "Yunzhen, you're so good to me."
"That's natural."
Shen Yunzhen nodded generously, accepting the praise without any embarrassment.
“Yun Zhen…”
Seeing that Xiao Chengze was about to say something, Shen Yunzhen quickly interrupted him.
"Alright, you should go and get some rest. It's getting late, and I need to sleep too."
"Okay! I'll head back now."
Xiao Chengze left with a heart full of emotion, and this interruption completely made him forget what he originally wanted to say.
He even temporarily put aside his insane jealousy of Xiao Chengxu, his heart filled only with Shen Yunzhen's kindness to him.
"Fool."
Shen Yunzhen muttered something and turned to go back to her room.
The next day, Xiao Chengxu came to Shen Yunzhen's residence again, and Xiao Chengze suddenly realized that he had forgotten to continue talking about how Xiao Chengxu had deceived Yunzhen.
He also didn't have a chance to express his feelings for Yunzhen...
Xiao Chengze made up his mind that once Xiao Chengxu left, he would talk to Yunzhen again.
He wanted Yunzhen to know that he loved her just as much.
Unlike Xiao Chengxu, he could marry Yunzhen immediately if she was willing.
In this life, there is only her.
No, it's forever!
Of course, he was destined not to have the chance to say these things today. When Xiao Chengxu came, he brought some of his personal belongings, clearly intending to spend the night here.
Of course, he did all of this discreetly, and he even made a point of passing through Qiaozhuang on his way here, so no one noticed him.
Xiao Chengxu knew very well that Yun Zhen's attitude towards life was something many people couldn't understand, and that the world was very hostile towards women.
If he knew that he had spent the night here, he might only have made a few mild rumors, but he would have launched a verbal attack on Yun Zhen.
But he was also afraid that if he didn't come, other people would soon appear around Yunzhen.
After all, she was willing to ask him for a man herself!
Moreover, having just tasted the sweetness of love, Xiao Chengxu was extremely inseparable from Shen Yunzhen, wanting to stay by her side every moment. If it weren't for political affairs, he would simply not leave.
Shen Yunzhen did not say anything about Xiao Chengxu's behavior.
Sleeping alone has its comforts, and sleeping with someone has its own fun.
Without a phone or internet, this is a good way to pass the time.
Xiao Chengze waited all day without a chance. It wasn't until the next day, when Xiao Chengxu went to court again, that Xiao Chengze finally found an opportunity to be alone with Shen Yunzhen and poured out his feelings of love.
Shen Yunzhen didn't even raise an eyebrow.
"I have no plans to get married right now, and I don't like men younger than me."
That's obviously false. Who doesn't like young and strong men?
Xiao Chengze was just a bit younger, only 15 years old, and had not yet grown up. Perhaps because he had no pressure, he was inevitably a bit indulgent towards himself, and his figure was also a bit thinner than Xiao Chengxu's.
It will be another two years before it reaches its peak season.
Xiao Chengxu was different. He was the same age as this body, tall and slender, with muscles of moderate thickness. In addition, he was calm and composed, and his every move exuded a sense of composure and strategy, having already shed his immaturity.
Xiao Chengze was greatly shocked upon hearing this.
His lips trembled as he asked softly, "Yun Zhen, please give me a chance?"
Shen Yunzhen shook her head without hesitation: "No."
Xiao Chengze swayed, his expression a mixture of tears and anguish, his eyes brimming with sorrow and grief.
"……I see……"
Shen Yunzhen nodded slightly, then brushed past him without hesitation.
She was used to having many admirers.
Even though she was intimidated by Xie Jingyue's status and military marriage, many people still confessed their feelings to her in private.
He wrote love letters and poured out his heart repeatedly, trying to win her over, but she remained unmoved.
Their admiration for her is their business; what does it have to do with her?
She wouldn't carry any negative emotions she shouldn't have, and as for pity or anything like that, there was none at all.
Only after Shen Yunzhen's figure disappeared around the corner, and the sun was high in the sky and gradually setting in the west, did Xiao Chengze finally drag his heavy steps and stagger away.
During this time, no one bothered or comforted him; even the servants, at Xiao Chengxu's instruction, deliberately kept their distance.
Xiao Chengxu was overjoyed to learn that Shen Yunzhen had rejected Xiao Chengze.
He hoped that Xiao Chengze could let go of his feelings and give up his love for Yun Zhen.
In this way, he can feel much more at ease.
However, it's clear that he was being overly optimistic.
Who can dispel the obsession that arises from his love for Shen Yunzhen?
These deep-seated emotions are destined to haunt him for life; his yearning and obsession with Shen Yunzhen will never be extinguished.
As the male protagonist of the small world, Xiao Chengze also has his merits. He did not give up and sorted out his emotions in one night. He appeared in front of Shen Yunzhen early the next morning. He did not look dejected. Only his bloodshot eyes showed that he had not rested well and perhaps had not slept all night.
He continued to work as a servant as usual, and instead of leaving after revealing his identity to Shen Yunzhen, he shamelessly chose to stay.
He won't leave unless Yunzhen directly tells him to leave!
Xiao Chengxu was naturally very unhappy about this, but as he grew closer to Shen Yunzhen, he also figured out her personality and knew that she didn't like jealousy, so he naturally suppressed his feelings.
It's alright. If nothing unexpected happens, Xiao Chengze should soon be out of the running for his time with Yun Zhen.
Xiao Chengze was naturally unaware of the situation.
It wasn't until the banquet hosted by the Empress that Xiao Chengze finally received the news, which was delivered to him by his uncle.
His mother is choosing a princess for him, and the candidates have already been selected.
The candidates were sent by Xu Lin so that Xiao Chengze could choose one and decide who he preferred.
Xiao Chengze was utterly astonished. "Uncle, what are you saying?"
"When choosing a consort, take a look at these women and see which one suits your taste best. Choose her as your principal wife, and then choose two more as secondary consorts. These women of slightly lower status can serve as concubines."
Xu Lin unfolded the list in front of Xiao Chengze and pointed at it.
Xiao Chengze shouted excitedly, "Uncle, when did I ever say I wanted to choose a prince's wife? I don't want to!"
Xu Lin asked in confusion, "Why? You didn't object when I asked your mother about it before."
"When did I agree to that?! I never said I wanted to choose a concubine, and I won't do it now, nor will I ever!"
Xiao Chengze was both angry and anxious.
His hopes were already slim, and if news of his selection of a concubine were to spread, he would have even less confidence in front of Yun Zhen. His already slim hopes might be completely dashed, something he absolutely could not tolerate.
“But… when your mother sent you a letter asking about it before, you didn’t object.”
Xu Lin looked astonished, unable to understand why he reacted so strongly.
"Faith? What faith?"
Xiao Chengze noticed something was wrong and grabbed Xu Lin's hand, asking him urgently.
Xu Lin also sensed that something was wrong.
"Your mother wrote to you asking if you had any young ladies you liked. You replied that it was entirely up to your mother to decide, and she selected these women for you at this banquet."
There must be someone behind this, and Xiao Chengze quickly identified who it was.
It must be that treacherous villain Xiao Chengxu!
“I have never received a letter, nor have I received any message.”
There was also a banquet; how come he didn't know about it?
Xiao Chengze gritted his teeth: "Uncle, tell me about the banquet."
Xu Lin was also puzzled as to why his grandson hadn't attended the banquet. Upon discovering the error in the process, he carefully explained it to Xiao Chengze.
Xiao Chengze then realized that the banquet, which was led by the Empress, was attended by many female relatives of civil and military officials and nobles in the capital, many of whom brought their children of marriageable age. His mother had taken a liking to several men at such banquets.
What a despicable and shameless scoundrel! He actually tried to drive him away from Yun Zhen in this way! Don't even think about it!
Xu Lin continued, "The Crown Prince also attended briefly. During that time, some young ladies showed interest in him, and he publicly stated that he already had someone he liked and would not choose any more concubines."
Everyone in the capital knew perfectly well who this person was.
Shen Yunzhen has been traveling a lot lately, and as her beauty has become more widely known, more and more people have become curious about her.
Some people think it's an exaggeration, while others yearn for it. Many people even wait on her travel route just to catch a glimpse of her beauty.
This finally made me understand what it means to have an ethereal beauty and be able to topple kingdoms.
Of course, they didn't forget His Highness the Crown Prince, who accompanied them on every trip.
No one found it strange that His Highness the Crown Prince had also fallen for the fairy's charms.
Even those who witnessed this scene took it for granted, and those who spread rumors were severely reprimanded by these people.
In addition, Shen Yunzhen's travels were not a secret, and she traveled quite often. There were very few people in the capital who had never seen her, so the rumors never spread.
One of the main purposes of Xiao Chengxu's request to his mother to hold this banquet was to clear Yunzhen's name, but that is no longer necessary. However, he still solemnly expressed his regard for Yunzhen.
Another purpose was to select a few suitable men for Xiao Chengze.
"Oh."
Xiao Chengze sneered, crumpled the list into a ball, and threw it hard on the ground.
"Uncle, you should go back. I don't plan to choose a concubine either, because I already have someone I like."
Xu Lin then realized who was behind it all and let out a heavy sigh.
"Your Highness, I know your intentions, but to put it bluntly, with the Crown Prince around, you have no chance."
He truly considered this nephew a close friend, which is why he spoke so frankly.
The Crown Prince and the Third Prince both have their eyes on the same person; who in the capital doesn't know that?
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